From Lisa Thompson:
Dear Friends: A few months ago I had the COLOSSAL blessing of being introduced to Steve Siler, founder of Music for the Soul a Christian nonprofit ministry of music. Our paths connected because of the film Somebody's Daughter, the very powerful documentary film about men's struggle with pornography. As those of you have been on this list for a while hopefully already know, I'm a huge fan of Somebody's Daughter.
It's a powerful tool full of the strength, truth, and light of the Holy Spirit against the darkness, isolation, and hopelessness of the sex industry. The film and music project Somebody's Daughter was spurred because of a friend's late night call to Steve. Steve's friend confessed to him about his ongoing battle with pornography. That night Steve and his friend decided, "We wanted to plant a flag; to say to the world that every woman is a child of God, deserving of dignity and respect and to be loved for who she is on the inside."
Ever since our introduction, Steve and I began corresponding and talking about issues related to sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. And, to my surprise, last fall he promised to write a song for our movement. Steve delivered on that promised earlier this year. When I read the email he sent me with the lyrics to a song he entitled Child of God I was moved to tears (lyrics provided below). Through those words I saw Steve standing on God's Holy Hill continuing to wave his flag high. In the battle against the ravages of the commercial sex industry and sex trafficking it is rare that people quickly comprehend the isolation, abandonment, and pain of those who are prostituted. I know it took me a long time before I understood all the nuances, and how the commercial sex industry can twist and distort reality so much that it can make itself almost look normal, harmless, and even liberating. But when held up to closer inspection all those distortions evaporate, and the hideous ugliness of what the sex industry is is exposed. I say all this to say that Steve understood all this, and he grasped it virtually over night. The fact that he understands pours out of every line, every stanza of this song.
Since Steve wrote the song, he has been VERY busy. Raising funds to cut a demo, coordinating numerous recording sessions, and perfecting the recording through all kinds of engineering that I can't begin to understand. Here is the good news: the final product is ready! And so, my friends, I am absolutely thrilled to announce the official release of Child of God to the public. To hear the song simply go to the Music for the Soul home page at http://www.musicforthesoul.org/ and look underneath the green tabs at the left hand side of the page, and click Child of God.
To contact Music for the Soul for your own copy and permission to use simply e-mail them using the contact page at the site or call the toll free number at 1-877-298-9081. You should know that Music for the Soul intends that Child of God be available to be used free of charge to minister to those rescued from sex trafficking or those coming out of the sex industry by organizations on the front lines. If organizations want to package the song for a premium to fundraise for their work or as part of live events Music for the Soul will negotiate below market license rates to make that possible. I am absolutely certain that many, many people will be blessed by Child of God. I know I have been. May it help soften the hearts of those hard against those in the sex trade, and may it be a message of love, comfort, and renewal to those who thought they were "just prostitutes." Abolition! Lisa
Child of God (Lyrics distributed with permission) by Steve Siler
copyright 2009 Music for the Soul
I paint on the face
I strap on the heels
I shut down my heart so it won’t have to feel
the hands that don’t know me all over my skin
and the eyes that don’t love me drinking me in
Under this make up I’m black and blue
The petals were crushed before I could bloom
I didn’t choose this No one ever would
And I’d break these chains if only I could
I’m a child of God
I hide in plain sight
I’m a child of God
Slave to the night
Powerless, broken, abandoned, abused
Do you see a child of God Or just a prostitute?
The world looks away and calls me a whore
and each day I die just a little bit more
A disposable person to keep at arms length
Human trash… Is that what you think?
I’m a child of God
I hide in plain sight
I’m a child of God
Slave to the night
Powerless, broken, abandoned, abused
Do you see a child of God Or just a prostitute?
What I’ve become is not who I am
We both were created by the very same hand
I’m a child of God
I hide in plain sight
I’m a child of God
This isn’t right
See my humanity
Look for the truth
I am a child of God
I am a child of God
Not a prostitute
14 July, 2009
10 July, 2009
charity or justice or both - read the article to find out more...
This is a major initiative and will mark a turning point in the hunger challenge. For more than 20 years there was not only a neglect of agriculture, but a reliance on shipping emergency food aid.
- Jeffrey Sachs, a Columbia University economist, praising President Obama's efforts to enlist the G8 nations to contribute $15 billion to invest in agricultural development--rather than direct aid--for the world’s poorest farmers. (Source: The New York Times)
Prostitution - our response
A discussion piece on Prostitution
Prostitution in Australia, as with many other countries has become a societal norm, something that many of us do not agree with but have come to accept as being a part of common life, although we rarely think about it. For many of us, Prostitution is something that is only related to the city, the night and men and women who are seen as morally incorrect or apathetic. We associate Prostitution with drug users, street crime and the geographical area’s of our neighbourhood, which we tend to avoid.
There is much debate about Prostitution and specifically in Australia the debate about legal and illegal Prostitution, which have strong arguments for both direction. When we consider Prostitution, we rarely look at the implications it has on the person, we talk about it as a moral and social issue, it is often a part of political debates, public awareness campaigns and more recently for The Salvation Army, the Red Shield Appeal. Prostitution has much deeper lying social impacts, on the person and the world in which that person lives, but often we view Prostitution as a choice that the person who we call a “prostitute” has made.
Why would people choose to be in Prostitution? I do recognise that there are some, who do make an informed choice to be in the work of Prostitution, but there are many others who may have seemed to make a choice, but that choice has been made out of necessity, survival or an addiction they can no longer control. So then is Prostitution a choice or is it someone trying to survive who has become a paid victim of physical and sexual abuse?
One pro-prostitution study revealed that there were actually 3 types of prostitutes, those who entered the work before 16 yrs (kids), those who entered between 16-18yrs (girls) and those who entered 19yrs (women) and up. The statistical information revealed that the kids and girls largely experienced family break-down, physical and sexual violence and drug abuse. Where as the statistical picture of women portrayed that they were lead into prostitution through, “economic situation, or financial survival for themselves”. The research displayed that it was an informed choice that these women made, as “many cases, their children, coupled with a knowledge about the sex industry which removes the barriers of mythological notions [is] enough for them to perceive prostitution as a viable economic option.”
All of these situations don’t seem to be much of a choice when prostitution is the only option. Maybe it was the most economical, maybe it would allow more financial viability for a single parent house hold, but surely we can not stand by and allow this to take place.
There are many women in Prostitution who choose not to leave, this is for a variety of reasons, many of which are related to fear of the unknown and the inability to financially support themselves any other way, plus a variety of other social factors. Interestingly studies reveal that more than 50% of women would choose to leave Prostitution if they felt they had the ability to. So have we created a society that allows Prostitution through law, but does not adequately support women who want to leave prostitution, therefore leaving them ostracised from the majority of society?
What is the way forward? There will be political and legal debates that take place, much justice to be fought for, but for us as Christians our first calling is to love God and than love others as Christ loved us. We accept that women, no matter what choices they have made are in prostitution and we love them no matter what the circumstance. We don’t just acknowledge them, we build relationships with them, we share with them, pray with them and be ready for when they see a way out and help them to rebuild their lives in new circumstances.
Prostitution in Australia, as with many other countries has become a societal norm, something that many of us do not agree with but have come to accept as being a part of common life, although we rarely think about it. For many of us, Prostitution is something that is only related to the city, the night and men and women who are seen as morally incorrect or apathetic. We associate Prostitution with drug users, street crime and the geographical area’s of our neighbourhood, which we tend to avoid.
There is much debate about Prostitution and specifically in Australia the debate about legal and illegal Prostitution, which have strong arguments for both direction. When we consider Prostitution, we rarely look at the implications it has on the person, we talk about it as a moral and social issue, it is often a part of political debates, public awareness campaigns and more recently for The Salvation Army, the Red Shield Appeal. Prostitution has much deeper lying social impacts, on the person and the world in which that person lives, but often we view Prostitution as a choice that the person who we call a “prostitute” has made.
Why would people choose to be in Prostitution? I do recognise that there are some, who do make an informed choice to be in the work of Prostitution, but there are many others who may have seemed to make a choice, but that choice has been made out of necessity, survival or an addiction they can no longer control. So then is Prostitution a choice or is it someone trying to survive who has become a paid victim of physical and sexual abuse?
One pro-prostitution study revealed that there were actually 3 types of prostitutes, those who entered the work before 16 yrs (kids), those who entered between 16-18yrs (girls) and those who entered 19yrs (women) and up. The statistical information revealed that the kids and girls largely experienced family break-down, physical and sexual violence and drug abuse. Where as the statistical picture of women portrayed that they were lead into prostitution through, “economic situation, or financial survival for themselves”. The research displayed that it was an informed choice that these women made, as “many cases, their children, coupled with a knowledge about the sex industry which removes the barriers of mythological notions [is] enough for them to perceive prostitution as a viable economic option.”
All of these situations don’t seem to be much of a choice when prostitution is the only option. Maybe it was the most economical, maybe it would allow more financial viability for a single parent house hold, but surely we can not stand by and allow this to take place.
There are many women in Prostitution who choose not to leave, this is for a variety of reasons, many of which are related to fear of the unknown and the inability to financially support themselves any other way, plus a variety of other social factors. Interestingly studies reveal that more than 50% of women would choose to leave Prostitution if they felt they had the ability to. So have we created a society that allows Prostitution through law, but does not adequately support women who want to leave prostitution, therefore leaving them ostracised from the majority of society?
What is the way forward? There will be political and legal debates that take place, much justice to be fought for, but for us as Christians our first calling is to love God and than love others as Christ loved us. We accept that women, no matter what choices they have made are in prostitution and we love them no matter what the circumstance. We don’t just acknowledge them, we build relationships with them, we share with them, pray with them and be ready for when they see a way out and help them to rebuild their lives in new circumstances.
08 July, 2009
Perth Brothels Overwhelmed with Business
Demand. Demand. Demand. One of the results of a legalized sex industry is the increase in demand... if you are a registered and legal brothel you can advertise and spread the word - you can bring in other women from other states to help satisfy men who want to buy sex... all of this sounds quite legit - except when you know about the real demographics of prostituted persons... most women involved in prostitution come from a marginalized, abusive and traumatic past... so to offer them an 'opportunity' to sell their bodies (at tremendous risk and personal damage) is merely to offer state-run exploitation.
Check out the article from Perth (click on this title to read the whole thing from the source):
PERTH brothels are increasing staff to contend with the arrival of two US warships carrying more than 5400 sailors.
Business groups estimate the sailors' arrival will boost the local economy to the tune of $5 million during the ships' five-day stay. The owner of Perth brothel Langtrees, Beverly Clarke, said she had put on five extra staff for the weekend, including two from the eastern states.
While there had already been a marginal increase in business, she expected numbers to increase markedly by Friday night.
``Two more (US) sailors just walked in,'' she said while being interviewed on Friday afternoon.
``At the moment I've even got girls from the eastern states here to assist us.''
06 July, 2009
21 June, 2009
To protect or not to protect
You may remember that there has been some conversation in the USA lately about the use of torture on terrorists, and its moral implications. I guess conversation is the wrong term to use. There was some heated debate at all levels that wrestled with the legitimate concern of how best to protect and defend the state from its enemies.
During this time, a report from the Government Accountability Office was released with multiple examples of abuse and torture by staff within government facilities. It was a report however, on incidents that occurred within public schools. The following information comes from an article ‘Torture in America's Schools’ by James Taranto who highlights the findings of the GAO report. He states that the 10 cases investigated involved children ranging in age from 4 to 14, and eight of the cases occurred at government schools. “The cases involved children with disabilities who were restrained and secluded, often in cases where they were not physically aggressive."
“At a public school in West Virginia, a 4-year-old girl with cerebral palsy and autism "was 'uncooperative,' so teachers restrained her in a chair with multiple leather straps that resembled a 'miniature electric chair.' " The girl was later diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder. "At least one of the three teachers responsible" is still at the school.
At a Texas public school, a 230-pound "special education teacher" placed a 129-pound boy of 14 "into a prone restraint and lay on top of him because he would not stay seated." The student died. The case was ruled a homicide but no charges were filed. The teacher "currently teaches in Virginia and is licensed to instruct children with disabilities."
Other cases include a 7 year old purportedly dying after being held face down for hours by school staff, 5 year olds allegedly being tied to chairs with bungee cords and duct tape by their teacher and suffering broken arms and bloody noses, and a 13 year old reportedly hanging himself in a seclusion room after prolonged confinement.”
These cases are both shocking and disgusting. However what I find worse is the reality that the report generated little to no outrage across any sectors of the country at a time when people were so vocal on the issue of torture toward terrorists. How do we comprehend this? The only thing that I can come up with is that people are selfish. Disability effects a relative small percentage of the population, and the rights of those affected are generally disregarded (except for the token mandated stuff we must adhere to like parking spaces and public toilets.) It appears we have not changed much from Biblical times. Hideous injustices occurring to those who are blemished physically? Sounds familiar. And the energy generated on the issue of torture to terrorists is totally understandable, because in some crazy way we have been made to believe that it effects us all very deeply, and closely. After all, terrorists are everywhere, aren’t they? And so we the public take a righteous stand, either for or against the rights of terrorists to be protected from torture.
My point, apart from simply being angry and wanting you to join me in this anger, is that when we look at a situation that is clearly unjust, we must look at the situation from the perspective of the victim, and not from our own personal point of view. Too often we act or remain still based on how the situation affects us. We say “well, I do feel sorry for the Afghans, but we surely can’t let all of them in the country?” We say, “well I do feel sorry for the Sudanese woman being raped, but if we send our troops there, who will protect our interests in the Middle East?” We say, “well I do feel bad for the indigenous who are dying of renal failure because there is limited dialysis in remote parts of the Territory, but we must continue to build better hospitals in the major cities, because that's where I live! (Ok, not many of you say that last one!)
My plea is that we begin to approach vulnerable people, simply because they require our help, and not because we have any vested interest one way or the other. Justice by triage…how would the world look then?
Gen
Article from http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB124412724085285291.html
During this time, a report from the Government Accountability Office was released with multiple examples of abuse and torture by staff within government facilities. It was a report however, on incidents that occurred within public schools. The following information comes from an article ‘Torture in America's Schools’ by James Taranto who highlights the findings of the GAO report. He states that the 10 cases investigated involved children ranging in age from 4 to 14, and eight of the cases occurred at government schools. “The cases involved children with disabilities who were restrained and secluded, often in cases where they were not physically aggressive."
“At a public school in West Virginia, a 4-year-old girl with cerebral palsy and autism "was 'uncooperative,' so teachers restrained her in a chair with multiple leather straps that resembled a 'miniature electric chair.' " The girl was later diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder. "At least one of the three teachers responsible" is still at the school.
At a Texas public school, a 230-pound "special education teacher" placed a 129-pound boy of 14 "into a prone restraint and lay on top of him because he would not stay seated." The student died. The case was ruled a homicide but no charges were filed. The teacher "currently teaches in Virginia and is licensed to instruct children with disabilities."
Other cases include a 7 year old purportedly dying after being held face down for hours by school staff, 5 year olds allegedly being tied to chairs with bungee cords and duct tape by their teacher and suffering broken arms and bloody noses, and a 13 year old reportedly hanging himself in a seclusion room after prolonged confinement.”
These cases are both shocking and disgusting. However what I find worse is the reality that the report generated little to no outrage across any sectors of the country at a time when people were so vocal on the issue of torture toward terrorists. How do we comprehend this? The only thing that I can come up with is that people are selfish. Disability effects a relative small percentage of the population, and the rights of those affected are generally disregarded (except for the token mandated stuff we must adhere to like parking spaces and public toilets.) It appears we have not changed much from Biblical times. Hideous injustices occurring to those who are blemished physically? Sounds familiar. And the energy generated on the issue of torture to terrorists is totally understandable, because in some crazy way we have been made to believe that it effects us all very deeply, and closely. After all, terrorists are everywhere, aren’t they? And so we the public take a righteous stand, either for or against the rights of terrorists to be protected from torture.
My point, apart from simply being angry and wanting you to join me in this anger, is that when we look at a situation that is clearly unjust, we must look at the situation from the perspective of the victim, and not from our own personal point of view. Too often we act or remain still based on how the situation affects us. We say “well, I do feel sorry for the Afghans, but we surely can’t let all of them in the country?” We say, “well I do feel sorry for the Sudanese woman being raped, but if we send our troops there, who will protect our interests in the Middle East?” We say, “well I do feel bad for the indigenous who are dying of renal failure because there is limited dialysis in remote parts of the Territory, but we must continue to build better hospitals in the major cities, because that's where I live! (Ok, not many of you say that last one!)
My plea is that we begin to approach vulnerable people, simply because they require our help, and not because we have any vested interest one way or the other. Justice by triage…how would the world look then?
Gen
Article from http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB124412724085285291.html
20 June, 2009
The epidemic
"A man from a remote Aboriginal community in Western Australia has died after testing positive to swine flu. South Australia's Chief Medical Officer Paddy Phillips says the 26-year old died in the Royal Adelaide Hospital on Friday afternoon. Swine flu has infected nearly 40,000 people around the world in 89 countries and territories, causing 168 deaths since late March, latest World Health Organisation data shows."
However, it is acknowledged that the majority of swine flu fatalities occur when the victims have additional health concerns already present, making the flu more difficult for the individual to battle.
The Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon assured Australians, "we do need to remind the community that for the vast majority of people who contract this flu over the coming months, it will be very mild."
So, essentially, swine flu takes down the weakest in our communities. Is it surprising then that our one and only swine flu fatality was a 26 year-old indigenous man? But, I guess that means we shouldn't worry, because for the vast majority of 'us', the flu will be very mild. I guess I am supposed to be thankful I am in the 'vast majority'?
I am not suggesting that the indigenous community are the only ones struggling in our country, and there is every chance there will be a non-indigenous death to report on next week. However, for me, it is just another disappointing reminder of the disparity between the majority of non-indigenous and indigenous Australians.
So, what are you going to do about it this week?
Genevieve
However, it is acknowledged that the majority of swine flu fatalities occur when the victims have additional health concerns already present, making the flu more difficult for the individual to battle.
The Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon assured Australians, "we do need to remind the community that for the vast majority of people who contract this flu over the coming months, it will be very mild."
So, essentially, swine flu takes down the weakest in our communities. Is it surprising then that our one and only swine flu fatality was a 26 year-old indigenous man? But, I guess that means we shouldn't worry, because for the vast majority of 'us', the flu will be very mild. I guess I am supposed to be thankful I am in the 'vast majority'?
I am not suggesting that the indigenous community are the only ones struggling in our country, and there is every chance there will be a non-indigenous death to report on next week. However, for me, it is just another disappointing reminder of the disparity between the majority of non-indigenous and indigenous Australians.
So, what are you going to do about it this week?
Genevieve
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